Pinckneyville Odyssey of the Mind World Finals '21

Hello!  Our names are Addie, Claire, Elisa, Emma, Kylie, Molly, and Sophie, and we are the Odyssey of the Mind team from Pinckneyville Middle School in Peachtree Corners, GA. 

We have been competing in Odyssey of the Mind for several years and are 3-time Georgia state champions and 2-time world champions.  After winning in our category at the 2021 state competition in GA earlier this Spring, we now go on to compete once again at the World Finals, which this year are being held in Orlando in June.

We have been working extremely hard since last summer to prepare for this year's Odyssey of the Mind competitions, creating an original play (including the script, sets, props, costumes, and make-up) with absolutely no help from adults and a budget of only $125 (because those are the rules!).

Although Orlando is closer than previous World Finals locations, getting all seven team members and our volunteer parent coach -- along with all of our props, costumes, and sets -- still comes with a cost.  We are hoping to raise money to help with the registration fees, lodging, meals, transportation, trailer rental, etc.  The competition takes place from June 10-12, so we would like to get funding in place by May 31st if possible.

Pinckneyville Middle School is a public school located in Peachtree Corners, GA, just outside of Atlanta, and is part of the Gwinnett County Public School District.  Although our team is linked to the school, the vast majority of our practices are held off school grounds and outside of school hours, and we are coached by a parent volunteer.  We are all involved in other school and community activities, so the many, many hours we have spent building sets, creating costumes, writing the script, and practicing our performance have been in addition to our other responsibilities and commitments (and while maintaining consistent COVID precautions!).

We realize some people might never have heard of Odyssey of the Mind (OotM) or do not understand exactly what it is, so we are including the official description as well as a link to their website for anyone who would like to know more:
“[OotM] is an international creative problem-solving program that engages students in their learning by allowing their knowledge and ideas to come to life in an exciting, productive environment. Participants build self-confidence, develop life skills, create new friendships, and are able to recognize and explore their true potential. OotM proves that students can have fun while they learn.”  https://www.odysseyofthemind.com

The competitions consist of the performance of our original skit based on the exact set of required elements given (the "long-term problem") as well as performance of the "spontaneous problem," in which teams are asked to perform random tasks on the spot with no prior preparation, such as creating a bridge out of unique materials that can actually support weight.  So, in effect, it's a great combination of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) with the arts (STEAM)!  It also requires a lot of teamwork and effective communication.  


It is an honor once again to be one of the teams that will be competing at the World Finals and to represent Peachtree Corners, Gwinnett County Public Schools, and the state of Georgia!  We sincerely appreciate any assistance, large or small, that you can provide as we prepare to make the journey to Orlando!  All donations collected will be withdrawn at the end of our fundraising campaign and deposited into a bank account created by Jeff Ebert (a team parent); these funds will then be distributed equally among the team members and volunteer parent coach. We thank you for your support!